The Sportsletter - Goodbye to the GOAT 🐐

BY JEFF YODER

FEB. 2, 2023  |  SUBSCRIBE  |  REFER  |  WEB VIEW

Good Morning,

Today's top story gave me déjà vu. Tom Brady is retiring (again), this time for good. Love him or hate him, seven Super Bowls and the all-time passing records make TB12 the greatest winner in NFL history. The man appeared in ten Super Bowls over the last two decades (50%), but time finally beats Tom.

Letter Rip!

NFL

Goodbye to the GOAT 🐐

Photo: Kevin Sabitus / Getty Images

Tom Brady Officially Retires From NFL (Again) After 23 Seasons, 7 Super Bowls & the Undisputed G.O.A.T. Status

Exactly one year ago yesterday, Tom Brady retired from the NFL, then returned a month later. Now, it’s official. Yesterday’s top story — one that will continue throughout the offseason — is the GOAT’s legitimate retirement, and his next move off the field. At 45 years old, Brady leaves the NFL with nearly every record imaginable, but he won’t say goodbye to football for good. He’s heading to the booth with FOX Sports as a broadcaster, and fans will get their Brady fix on Sundays for the foreseeable future.

The announcement was made with less flash and more sincerity than expected. Brady simply recorded a short video on his phone and posted it to social media after notifying the Buccaneers, and a day of "Tom-foolery" was unleashed in the sports world. Debates, analysis and trips down memory lane filled the airwaves, and they’ll continue to do so. The greatest winner of the 21st century rides off into the sunset.

"I know the process was a pretty big deal last time, so when I woke up this morning, I figured I'd just press record and let you guys know first… I won't be long-winded. You only get one super emotional retirement essay, and I used mine up last year, so really thank you guys so much to every single one of you for supporting me.” — Tom Brady

Watch: Tom Brady’s Retirement Announcement Video

Tom Brady’s Accomplishments (By the Numbers)

• 23 Seasons
• 89,214 Passing Yards (1st All-Time)
• 649 Passing Touchdowns (1st All-Time)
• 7-Time Super Bowl Champion
• 5-Time Super Bowl MVP
• 3-Time NFL MVP
• 6-Time All Pro
• 15 Pro Bowls

We wrote this similar story exactly one year ago, but this one is expected to stick. So long, Tom Brady — the most obsessive winner the NFL has ever seen. See you in the booth!

Additional Storylines

NBC Sports: Ranking the Top Moments From Tom Brady’s Career (Video)

SI: Tom Brady Defined & Connected Generations of Football Players

The Ringer: Tom Brady is Retiring a Year Too Late, But Now Has No Lingering Questions

CBS Sports: How Tom Brady’s Departure Affects 2023 QB Carousel for Bucs, 49ers, Raiders & Others

CFB

National Signing Day 2.0

Photo: Icon Sportswire / Getty Images

2023 College Football Recruiting Rankings, Tracker, Key Commitments & More

Ah, the traditional date for National Signing Day finally arrived. The majority of the nation’s top high school football players made their decisions during the early signing period in December, but a few high-profile targets made headlines on Wednesday. Among the big winners in the 2023 class is, no surprise, Alabama, which locked up the No. 1 class for the third time in six years. Their nine five-star recruits is the third-ranked class in college football history. Here are some of the top names and where they signed on Wednesday.

Top Recruiting Decisions

5-Star ATH Nyckoles Harbor — South Carolina

4-Star QB Jaden Rashada — Arizona State

4-Star CB Rodrick Pleasant — Oregon

4-Star OL Chimdy Onoh — Penn State

4-Star TE Walker Lyons — USC

Top Recruiting Classes (2023)

1. Alabama (Points: 327.68)

2. Georgia (Points: 315.72)

3. Texas (Points: 305.11)

4. Ohio State (Points: 289.05)

5. Oklahoma (Points: 288.97)

6. LSU (Points: 288.50)

7. Miami (Points: 285.62)

8. Tennessee (Points: 276.49)

9. Notre Dame (Points: 274.33)

10. Oregon (Points: 273.79)

*Rankings via 24/7 Sports Composite

Additional Storylines

CBS Sports: Five-Star, 2-Sport Athlete Nyckoles Harbor Commits to South Carolina

ESPN: National Signing Day Rundown: Top Stories & Decisions From 2023 Recruits

WNBA

The Loaded Liberty

Photo: Steph Chambers / Getty Images

Breanna Stewart Joins New York Liberty in Massive WNBA Free Agency Blockbuster

After weeks of speculation, the biggest WNBA free agent on the market has made her decision. Breanna Stewart announced she’s signing with the New York Liberty on Wednesday, making her the second former MVP to join the Liberty this offseason after New York acquired Jonquel Jones from the Connecticut Sun in mid-January. Combine those two with Sabrina Ionescu, and the Liberty are loaded.

Welcome to ‘Stew York’

Since entering the league in 2016, Stewart won two WNBA titles (2018 & 2020) and one WNBA MVP (2018) with the Seattle Storm. She’s been borderline injury free and can play almost any position. She just made the Liberty title contenders for the foreseeable future.

The Loaded Liberty

Most basketball fans can attest to the era of the “super team,” and the new-look Liberty fit the description. Ionescu is 25 and highly regarded as the league’s brightest young star, while Stewart (27) and Jones (29) have three combined MVPs and can dominate inside and out.

Breanna Stewart: 21.8 ppg, 7.6 reb, 2.9 ast

Sabrina Ionescu: 17.4 ppg, 7.1 reb, 6.3 ast

Jonquel Jones: 14.6 ppg, 8.6 reb, 1.8 ast

It’s scary hours in New York.

Additional Storylines

SI: Basketball World Reacts to Breanna Stewart’s Liberty Signing

Seattle Times: You Can Be Sad About Breanna Stewart Leaving Storm, But Don’t Be Mad

FTW: Breanna Stewart Signs With New York, So We Can Just Fast Forward to the Aces-Liberty Final Now

🎥 THE HIGHLIGHTS

🏀 NBA: Lillard Goes Lights Out Again

Another night, another 40-plus outing for Damian Lillard. The Blazers star put up a 42-10-8 night in Portland’s win over Memphis (122-112). Lillard now has nine 40-point games this season, including six of the last 11 games.

🏒 NHL: Canes Cruise to 7th Straight Win

The top two teams in the NHL were the only pair of winners Wednesday night on ice as the Bruins and Hurricanes both stayed hot. Carolina roughed up Buffalo with a blowout (5-1), and the Canes’ win streak has reached seven.

🏀 NCAAM: Florida Knocks Off #2 Tennessee

Another upset in college hoops! No. 2 Tennessee was on the business end of a second-half beatdown in the SEC after Florida pulled the upset Wednesday night. After giving away the lead with just over 10 minutes to go, the Gators reeled off a 17-2 run to leave the Vols in the dust (67-54). Tennessee shot just 27.9 percent from the floor.

THE STORYLINES

⛳️ Meet the TGL Lineup

After announcing their new company TMRW Sports last August, Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy also introduced TGL, a “new tech-infused league” that will partner with the PGA Tour. Here are the golfers participating on Monday nights in 2024. (USA Today)

🏈 Most Important NFL Free Agents

Super Bowl LVII is upon us. But in the meantime, the rest of the league is earnestly preparing for the offseason, with free agency, trades and the 2023 NFL Draft all on the horizon. Here’s a look at the one internal free agent every team can’t afford to lose. (CBS Sports)

🏀 NCAA Tournament Projections

The top seeds in the projections are unchanged, as Purdue, Tennessee, Houston and Alabama remain on the 1-line. With one month between now and March, here’s how the top seeds look in the latest NCAA Tournament seed projections. (FOX Sports)

📰 THE HEADLINES

• Wizards-Pistons Game Postponed Over Ice Storm, Travel Issues (ESPN)
• Eagles OL Josh Sills Indicted on Rape & Kidnapping Charges (SI)
• Bills Safety Damar Hamlin Launches Social Media Campaign to Raise Awareness for CPR (USA Today)
• Fan Dies Following Brawl at Middle School Basketball Game in Vermont (CBS Sports)
• Sean Payton’s Contract With Broncos Reportedly Between $17-20 Million Per Year (NBC Sports)

Please consider supporting The Sportsletter, an independently operated and bootstrapped publication, and you'll receive our exclusive Sunday edition. Many thanks to everyone who already supports us!

Writer & Editor: Jeff Yoder

Product Manager: Matthew Cahill

Lead Designer: Joe Stella

Technical Lead: Kevin Lonergan

Did Someone Forward You This Email? Subscribe Here
Feedback? Contact Our Editor: Jeff@TheSportsletter.com
Not Loving The Letter? Unsubscribe
Follow us on Social Media: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Copyright © 2023 The Sportsletter
717 Market Street, San Francisco, CA, 94103